Hughton has been impressed with Fabricio Coloccini’s start to his second Premier League season at Newcastle.
Coloccini with Newcastle manager Chris Hughton – promotion is ours!
Certainly the Argentine international seems to have greatly benefited from a year down in the Championship, and he is now much better prepared to match the very physical nature of football in England.
Fabricio struggled a little in his first season in English football following his £10.3M move from Deportivo La Coruña, and of course the wheels came off the Newcastle club that season, and we were relegated from the PL for the very first time.
Coloccini’s excellent form this season, coupled with Mike Williamson looking so good, will likely mean that new boy Sol Campbell will have to take a seat on the bench against Blackpool on Saturday.
Sol did get a good 60 minutes of football in last night, when the Reserves drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Whitley Park.
Newcastle manager Hughton talked about Coloccini today:
“Fabricio was outstanding last year and a very important player for us. He has got used to English football and the challenges it brings and it is good for him to be able to show his quality in the Premier League.”
“I thought the two center-backs stood up really well to a tough test as Wolves. They had a real go at us, with a lot of long balls into the area.”
“And the two centre-backs stood up to that. It has been an encouraging start, but they will have plenty more tough tests to come.”
With Coloccini, Williamson, Campbell, Steven Taylor and Kadar now at the club, it’s a long time since Newcastle has been so strong at center-back.
There will be some good players on the bench once Taylor and Campbell return to the fray, that’s for sure.
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
tdt
Sep 8, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Comment #1I wish…
——————–Harper——————
R.Taylor—-Collo—-Williamson—-Enrique
——————–Barton——————
Routeledge—————————-Jonas
————-Nolan—–Ben Arfa————-
——————Carroll———————-
However, I think…
——————–Harper——————
Perch—-Collo—-Williamson—-Enrique
————Smith———Barton————-
Routeledge—————————-Jonas
———————-Nolan———————
———————Carroll———————-
Either way I think we will be too strong at home for Blackpool, hope so anyway!
Captain Beefheart
Sep 8, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Comment #2‘once Taylor and Campbell return to the fray…’
I wouldn’t be my last 50p on ever seeing Taylor play again. He’s a waste of space that could be better marked.
stk85
Sep 8, 2010 at 1:17 PM
Comment #3colo looks the real deal now, confident and strong, and him and williamson are a very good partnership.
speaking of mike williamson, he’s obviously better than matthew upson, but how far behind lescott and cahill is he?
jesus was a geordie
Sep 8, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Comment #4sk85 I honestly don’t think it matters, I can’t see him getting called up!
G
Sep 8, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Comment #5I am fairly sure Don Fabio has a pretty decent scouting network, so will be aware of MW. Wether or not MW fits into Don Fabio’s plans remains to be seen, but I would probs go along with jwag @ 4 on that one.
Mr Books
Sep 8, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Comment #6JWAG – Agree, but then again I would have said the same of Jagielka 18 months ago
moonraker
Sep 8, 2010 at 2:31 PM
Comment #7I can’t remember when we last had so many options in the back four. We are starting to benefit from Hoots and Colin’s background as players; they are making sure we are built on solid defence as was shown last season and the fact that we’ve strengthened again.
I know there are still doubts about some players but it’s definitely looking promising 🙂
moonraker
Sep 8, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Comment #8Capello usually sticks with high profile players! Has he been to SJP yet?
He hasn’t mastered standard english yet so geordie patter might set him back a bit!! 🙂
TOONTOONTOON
Sep 9, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Comment #9The defence is playing very well at the minute saw some stats this moining that newcastle have the meanest defence for allowing shots on target 6 shots on target in 3 games so the defence is doing its part.
baro
Sep 9, 2010 at 4:24 AM
Comment #10Fab Coloccini is a crucial player for us. He is getting better and better at the Premierleage style.
CHN Robert
Sep 9, 2010 at 6:43 AM
Comment #11Hey Ed, where did you pull this quote from? Thanks.